Legal risk management of adverse health outcomes and injury in the fitness industry: developing evidence-informed regulation that improves safety. This project analyses Australian laws, policies and practices designed to manage legal risks and liabilities in the fitness industry, and assesses their effectiveness in preventing adverse health outcomes, injuries, and the legal liability associated with those risks.
Private Security and Public Interest: Exploring Private Security Trends and Directions for Reform in the New Era of Plural Policing. This study will provide the first ever comprehensive assessment of private security and what it can and cannot offer society in terms of fair and effective order maintenance, crime prevention and law enforcement in Australia. Stemming from problems incurred by the sector, the research will address how governments should regulate the growing range of policing functi ....Private Security and Public Interest: Exploring Private Security Trends and Directions for Reform in the New Era of Plural Policing. This study will provide the first ever comprehensive assessment of private security and what it can and cannot offer society in terms of fair and effective order maintenance, crime prevention and law enforcement in Australia. Stemming from problems incurred by the sector, the research will address how governments should regulate the growing range of policing functions undertaken by private providers. It will also address the issue of how private police can best satisfy legal and justice criteria, meet the demands of accountability and develop mutually beneficial models of cooperation with the public sector. The research will recommend to policy-makers preferred 'plural' policing models for the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Undocumented Migrants- Unearthing Knowledge on a Key Source of Farm Labour. The Australian horticulture industry has endemic labour challenges, both in terms of labour supply challenges and a systemic problem of non-compliance with labour standards. A core component of both problems is the entrenched reliance on undocumented migrants. Given complex supply chains transiting fresh fruit and vegetables from the farm to the consumer, undocumented workers are largely invisible. There is very little ....Undocumented Migrants- Unearthing Knowledge on a Key Source of Farm Labour. The Australian horticulture industry has endemic labour challenges, both in terms of labour supply challenges and a systemic problem of non-compliance with labour standards. A core component of both problems is the entrenched reliance on undocumented migrants. Given complex supply chains transiting fresh fruit and vegetables from the farm to the consumer, undocumented workers are largely invisible. There is very little research on undocumented workers on farms. Addressing this critical Australian and international knowledge gap, this project is the first study to comprehensively analyse the role of undocumented migrants in the horticulture industry from a multi-stakeholder approach, involving government, employers and workers.Read moreRead less
Advancing the Thermal Insulation Performance of Australian Roofing Systems. To reduce the environmental impact of houses, state governments have mandated performance requirements on the energy efficiency of buildings. This research will develop advanced design techniques for the application of insulation in buildings, improving their performance. This will increase the effficiency of new buildings reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the peak power demand from residenti ....Advancing the Thermal Insulation Performance of Australian Roofing Systems. To reduce the environmental impact of houses, state governments have mandated performance requirements on the energy efficiency of buildings. This research will develop advanced design techniques for the application of insulation in buildings, improving their performance. This will increase the effficiency of new buildings reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the peak power demand from residential buildings will reduce, decreasing the need to upgrade our electrical infrastructure. The research will enable more cost effective insulation solutions to be developed in the building industry and increase employment in the insulation industry.Read moreRead less
A legally-informed intervention for schools to prevent and intervene in cases of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a growing problem for young people as well as amongst adults in the workplace. This project will develop and trial a legally-informed intervention which will be delivered by young people in order to increase student, parent and teacher knowledge of the law to prevent and manage cyberbullying incidents.
Geographical Indications for Wine in Australia’s Free Trade Agreements. This project aims to clarify the appropriate basis for protecting geographical indications for wines in trade agreements and domestic legal systems. The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the criteria, evidence and procedure that should be required to establish a geographical indication. Existing law risks misuse of this mechanism to unjustifiably protect domestic markets; the European Union is seeking prot ....Geographical Indications for Wine in Australia’s Free Trade Agreements. This project aims to clarify the appropriate basis for protecting geographical indications for wines in trade agreements and domestic legal systems. The project expects to generate new knowledge concerning the criteria, evidence and procedure that should be required to establish a geographical indication. Existing law risks misuse of this mechanism to unjustifiably protect domestic markets; the European Union is seeking protection for what appear to be grape varieties rather than geographical indications. Expected outcomes include evidence-based recommendations to government and industry. Project outcomes should benefit Australian economic interests by enhancing Australia’s ability to resist spurious geographical indication claims.Read moreRead less
Development of novel roofing panels integrating solar heat collection and phase change storage. The provision of comfort heating for domestic and commercial buildings contributes significantly to Australia's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The project aims to develop a new roofing product which will collect and store solar energy for heating. The product integrates conventional roofing products into a solar collector and a heat store. Materials that melt/freeze at suitable temperatures ....Development of novel roofing panels integrating solar heat collection and phase change storage. The provision of comfort heating for domestic and commercial buildings contributes significantly to Australia's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The project aims to develop a new roofing product which will collect and store solar energy for heating. The product integrates conventional roofing products into a solar collector and a heat store. Materials that melt/freeze at suitable temperatures will be used for heat storage. The project involves developing a mathematical model and a prototype design. In addition to fulfilling the conventional function of roofing products including thermal and sound insulation, the prototype is intended to be aesthetically acceptable and easily compatible with current building practices.Read moreRead less
The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by s ....The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by social service providers. It will produce a better understanding of magistrates courts, emphasising ideas of judicial independence and accountability, essential to ensuring high standards for the Australian legal system and its relation to the community.Read moreRead less
Validation and Verification of Electronic Evidence: Developing a Testing Regime for Digital Forensic Software Reliability. Law Enforcement is analysing an exponentially-increasing quantity of Electronic Evidence - a 100,000 fold increase was experienced by the NSW police in the last decade. This is clear indication that computer related evidence is now an essential component of traditional crime investigation as well as computer crime. We intend to streamline the investigative process. This can ....Validation and Verification of Electronic Evidence: Developing a Testing Regime for Digital Forensic Software Reliability. Law Enforcement is analysing an exponentially-increasing quantity of Electronic Evidence - a 100,000 fold increase was experienced by the NSW police in the last decade. This is clear indication that computer related evidence is now an essential component of traditional crime investigation as well as computer crime. We intend to streamline the investigative process. This can only occur with the development of a validation framework from which we can build a testing regime to establish reliability of forensic tools and therefore the forensic investigative processes. Read moreRead less
Protecting while they prosper? Organisational responses to whistleblowing. This project aims to examine the adequacy of organisational responses to whistleblowing (employee reporting of wrongdoing). So far, research into public-interest whistleblowing has revealed much about the incidence, significance and experience of whistleblowers. This project now extends the research to the other side of the issue — the organisations. By comparing employee and managerial experience in multiple public and p ....Protecting while they prosper? Organisational responses to whistleblowing. This project aims to examine the adequacy of organisational responses to whistleblowing (employee reporting of wrongdoing). So far, research into public-interest whistleblowing has revealed much about the incidence, significance and experience of whistleblowers. This project now extends the research to the other side of the issue — the organisations. By comparing employee and managerial experience in multiple public and private sector organisations in Australia and New Zealand, the project intends to identify the factors that influence good and bad responses across a range of institutions; provide a clearer basis for reform of policies, procedures and law; and set benchmarks for comparative research worldwide.Read moreRead less